Anyone suffer from migraines?

[sparkleshine]

Hey
I've just been in hospital for a few days following a sudden onset of blurred vision, photophobia and severe headache. I've had a CT, MRI scans and lumbar puncture as they were initially thinking a bleed in my brain.
Following these all being negative they came to the conclusion that it was a migraine.
I've never had these before although do get headaches quite often.

Anyway, after all that, I was wondering how often migraines can occur and what I can do if it happens again?
What are the symptoms? I had the blurred vision about 20 mins before the headache started so not much notice.
I was on morphine in hospital but obviously can't have this at home.
Should u go back into hospital if it happens again?

TIA x

My migraines are very random, I don't even know what the trigger is, I went to the doctor he attacked me with the blood pressure machine and said it was fine and gave me a prescription for migraleve which doesn't help as I suffer vomiting with my migraines...

I generally wake up with mine and I'm confined to the bed with a cold flannel in the dark and they can last for about 6 hrs before I feel OK to stand up.

I have had migraines for 20 years, they only occur about twice a year.

I find if I take tablets and go to bed at the first sign of visual disturbances then they are not too bad.

Different people have different triggers, try to keep a diary to see if you can find yours.

Mine seem to be triggered by low blood sugar and have been improved by a gi diet.

I don't think you should go back to the hospital if you have another, if they are sure that is what it was. You should have some tablets ready, your GP should advise you.

Juneybean my GP said that migraines on waking are caused by low blood sugar, my DS has them, I give him porridge before bed and that cured them.

Ohh thank you Lynli, that could be true actually :)

You do have what sounds like classic 'Migraine' symptoms there.

I've had the bloody things for 15 years now. I find that:

Letting myself dehydrate is a no.

Letting my blood sugar yo-yo too much is a no.

Too much/too little caffeine!

Not taking painkillers immediately at the first sign of any symptoms is a disaster. This is because migraine is not just a bad headache but affects all sorts of parts of the body. Once in the grip of it, your digestive system shuts down and you won't be able to break down tablets effectively.

The same goes for anything like Migraleve - take it asap!

If you find yourself getting them regularly, maybe think about tracking your periods. I get a lot of mine in the week before my period. Hormones are a trigger and I had none at all whilst pregnant.

Also, if you get them regularly, ask your Dr to prescribe something that will help prevent the things rather than treating them.

There are a few options out there for that, although you may have to do some chopping and changing to find one that suits!

Sorry for sounding like a public health announcement!

Take Syndol or something similar as soon as the blurred vision starts - the only way to have a hope of it not putting you to bed for hours ime. I need to eat something as well, like an oatcake, when taking the Syndol.

Thanks for the tips and advice anything and everything helps

Think I will take a trip to my GP and ask for some preventative tablets if that's the way to go. I never got told anything on discharge.

That migraine headache I had lasted 5 days. Is this a 'normal' time frame or do you think it's because it was my first?

As for triggers, I do get mild headaches if I'm dehydrated or not eaten for a few hours ( like mornings) so it's something to think about.

I don't have periods at the moment as we've stopped ttc and I've got implant in so couldn't be a trigger. Though maybe the extra hormones from that caused it???

After having migraines since childhood, finally figured my trigger is primarily saccharin and the sweeteners you get in chewing gum... a food allergy type thing. I do find herbal infusion of Vervain to be particularly effective in reducing symptoms - agree with post about early intervention though. Mine can last 48 hours if bad, but (fingers crossed) not too frequent any more. Friend of mine gets them every week - hideous.

I had migraines for over 25 years, from one every couple of months at 13 to last year having one a week lasting for 4 days - not good with a 2 and a 3 year old. No painkiller touched them and I thought I had to put with them, didn't bother GP with it as I have had depression since puberty and expected it to be a symptom of that. Plucked up the courage last summer, GP was gobsmacked that I hadn't ever mentioned it before. Within 2 weeks I saw a specialist who put me on Atenolol 50mg twice a day. I have normal blood pressure btw, he said these tablets have helped lots of sufferers. No headaches at all so far. Can't believe I have wasted 20 years of my life....

Crikey Littleover - 4 days every week . I'll mention the drug to my friend, thanks.

I had atenolol too before I was pregnant and they were very good. Also use Imigran.
OP, hope you are feeling ok. I had similar hospitalisation a few years back and it was very scary. Try to keep a 'migraine diary' and defo make a follow up GP appointment.

I had a migraine last night incidently. Mine are mostly hormonal - my first major one was when I was post natal with DS1. I had them horrifically when pregnant with DS2 and breastfeeding, but since being on the combined pill they have calmed - last nights was only the 2nd in 18months.

Mine start with blurred vision. Like wandering around without my glasses on. If I notice it there and then and get some strong co-codamol in me I can normally lessen the attack. I then get flashing lights, zig zags in front my eyes, cant see or focus and act almost drunk. Then the pain comes about 30 minutes later. Today I have a very dull head, and this will last a couple of days.

I did have one once where my whole right side went numb and they thought it was a stroke.

I think yesterdays was triggered by cheese - I had cheese on crackers for the first time in a year. And it was very out of the blue.

Wow some of you have been suffered by this for years.
I hope you all find a cure/treatment that works. Must be so hard getting the balance right and having to suffer another migraine to see if it's right for you.

I guess knowing my trigger is going to take time. But I will keep a food and migraine diary when/if it happens again. I did have regular headaches, like 4-5 days a week but went away with paracetamol. Maybe they were building up to land a huge one on me.

Littleover, great that you haven't had one in so long. Must be a relief not to be burdened with them anymore.

Thanks again ladies xx your comments are much appreciated

my first migraine saw me blue-lighted to hospital in an ambulance with suspected stroke and/or meningitis!!

that was about 1996. i then didn't have one till 1999. i now average about two a year.

mine are generally brought on by the end of a stressful period, not the stress but the relief at the end.. it's crap.

i get really bad confusion and don't know my name or address or recognise words at all, then comes the unfocussed vision and more general confusion then finally the headache.

BUT i now take sumatriptan when i get my first symptoms (generally first symptom is an inability to read or to remember words/names). i carry sumatriptan EVERYWHERE and if i take it at first symptom and go to bed then i generally don't get he headache at all and am ok in about 4/6 hours (or overnight).

if you have a lot of headaches generally then are they tension headaches? if so then you might find that massage or osteopathy to remove neck/shoulder tension can cure both the headaches and migraine.

I have had them for about 15 years now-largely hormone related so without medication would be one a month either just before or just after a period.

mine are also triggered by stress, extreme tiredness, low blood sugar

I have tablets (Maxalt) that help if you take them in the right time period but I think the key really is prevention and managing your health to avoid them.

I have found that regular running(3 times a week), eating less choc/biscuits, going to bed a bit earlier around period time has helped as has taking dispersible aspirin as often as needed. If I think something might be brewing I immediately have two aspirin with a can of coke as the sugar and caffeine are a real help. Then if this fails I have my prescription tablets as back up.

i hope you find something that works for you-it can be very depressing

fluffles I get the same confusion that you describe-I've descibed it to DP as 'losing my words' as I can't seem to form the words in my brain to have a conversation